76ers Embrace Australia Ties, Host Heritage Night At Wells Fargo Center

The 76ers last night celebrated Australian Heritage Night at Wells Fargo Center against the Bulls, where commemorative white T-shirts were "draped over every single seat of a sold out arena." There were "miniature Australian flags to wave, Four’N Twenty meat pie eating contests, and even a famed former Aussie Rules Football star" in Dane Swan in attendance (SIXERS.com, 1/25).

Swan flew in from Australia for the game featuring Melbourne-born Ben Simmons "aimed at building on sporting links between the two countries." Swan also "rang the Nasdaq Stock Exchange bell in Philadelphia overnight" and "oversaw" the pie-eating contest. The game was also "attended by Aussie-based Hollywood celebrities and Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Joe Hockey" (THE WEST AUSTRALIAN, 1/24).